Stagnant surface water in sump ?

[MrDLHughesY]

Hi guys just wondered if any of you running sumps suffer from stagnant surface water in your sump ? Mine seems to be in the chamber where my return pump is. I know I could add a small power head but this is where my ATO sensor is so could cause issues with this.

This is a brand new tank so not sure if that plays a part as never run a sump before.

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

i usually run a small power head in there with a filter on it. something like a cut bottle stuffed with filter floss. saw this thing on joey's diy channel

 

[MrDLHughesY]

i usually run a small power head in there with a filter on it. something like a cut bottle stuffed with filter floss. saw this thing on joey's diy channel

Any pics ?

 

[mickeysreef <*))))<]

 

[chiefifd]

Hi MrDLHughesY.....just wondering how things came out with the scum in your sump's return section.
I'm having a similar issue with my new LifeReef sump. The return section of the sump is dead calm, it's developing a film on the water surface. My auto-top off is also in the return section of the sump. I have the same thought's about a small powerhead running in the return section. I was thinking of running the small powerhead on a timer, running it several times throughout the day.
Any lessons learned would be appreciated.

 

[MrDLHughesY]

Hi MrDLHughesY.....just wondering how things came out with the scum in your sump's return section.
I'm having a similar issue with my new LifeReef sump. The return section of the sump is dead calm, it's developing a film on the water surface. My auto-top off is also in the return section of the sump. I have the same thought's about a small powerhead running in the return section. I was thinking of running the small powerhead on a timer, running it several times throughout the day.
Any lessons learned would be appreciated.

I currently just have a spare pump in there at the moment which I will eventually hook up to a reactor so I just run that for short periods. Still didn’t seem to solve the issue if I am quite honest but aslong as its not in the display them I’m not to fussed.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Your gonna want more.flow to keep the surface water moving and get all that into the filter or sponge. Sock. Ect.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

A powerhead or something.
D

 

[chiefifd]

I've added a small powerhead to my sump's return section that houses an Auto-Top Off (Tunze). I have the powerhead on my Neptune controller, it's set to turn on twice a day for 10 minutes.
I haven't had any issues with the Auto-Top Off dumping excess RO/DI water or the scum that had been collecting in the return section of the sump. I have the powerhead pointed up to disturb the water surface.
I think I'll move the powerhead around a bit to allow it to stir up the bottom of the return section from time to time too.
Just my experience so far.......

 

[Reefer Reboot]

Here's a little idea, find a square plastic bottle (i.e., water bottle, coffee creamer bottle) and cut the top and bottom off. Put it in so that it surrounds the optical sensor and is held in place by the mag mount. (hopefully it's strong enough.) This should help dampen the surface wave action around the sensor. Then blast away at the surface with a powerhead.

 

[enemec1]

I've added a small powerhead to my sump's return section that houses an Auto-Top Off (Tunze). I have the powerhead on my Neptune controller, it's set to turn on twice a day for 10 minutes.
I haven't had any issues with the Auto-Top Off dumping excess RO/DI water or the scum that had been collecting in the return section of the sump. I have the powerhead pointed up to disturb the water surface.
I think I'll move the powerhead around a bit to allow it to stir up the bottom of the return section from time to time too.
Just my experience so far.......

what is the apex code to get this to only run twice a day?

 

[chiefifd]

Here ya go....
This will turn on the pump at noon and midnight....
The pump will run for 10 minutes at noon and midnight.

Line #1 is Fallback OFF
Line #2 is OSC 000:00/010:00/710:00 Then ON

 

[enemec1]

Here ya go....
This will turn on the pump at noon and midnight....
The pump will run for 10 minutes at noon and midnight.

Line #1 is Fallback OFF
Line #2 is OSC 000:00/010:00/710:00 Then ON

if i change the 010:00 to 005:00 will that only run for 5 min?

 

[chiefifd]

yup then I believe it would be OSC 000:00/005:00/720:00 Then ON

 

[LacViet]

i have a T section on the return pipe with close valve, so i diverted part of the return water from return pipe to go back to the sum. Just a little trickle is enough to break the film on surface. No need for additional water pump.

 

[krash7172]

It drove me nuts when my tank was new to see this. I put a power head in there. I later removed it to free up an outlet and it never returned. My thoughts now: 1) new tank issue? 2) Does it even matter if it's only a small portion of your total surface area?

 

[homer1475]

Non issue.

It's not really stagnant, but rather just surface proteins. You would see the same thing in a display with no surface agitation and no surface skimmer(overflow). Yet the display certainly isn't stagnant.

Sumps have been running this way for years. When you turn off the return, water runs down the return line and out the pump, breaking that surface tension, and breaking up the surface "scum".

I turn off my return at least once a week during WC's.

 

[chiefifd]

I'm just a little OCD perhaps. I'd rather at this time have a mini-pump turn on twice a day to turn over the surface proteins. Did it change anything overall in my tank? No, but I'm happier now not looking at the proteins floating on top.

Your absolutely right, the return chamber is hardly stagnant water.
My return chamber probably pumps 600 GPH, with a capacity of maybe 8 to 10 gallons. So my return chamber turns over at least 60 times an hour.....Just didn't like the scum in my return section.

Turning off my return pump to do water changes only raised my water level. It did little to mix the layer of protein in the return section.

To each their own, there are many ways to bake a cake.
Take Care all.........